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Immunity from Gas Prices: One Girl’s Ultimate Guide

I just returned from a mini-tour. Four days, four states, two shows, one workshop, three radio interviews, and a television show. And four tanks of gas. (Obviously, I don’t have a Prius.)

I remember a conversation from a few years ago. Some friends and I decided that gas should be five bucks a gallon. Our thinking? That would be the only way to motivate anyone to use alternative energy. So, even though it’s uncomfortable at times, and even though I don’t love why gas prices are rising, I believe that good things are happening.

But, here’s the thing: Lots of people are talking about “hard times.” I even noticed the temptation to go there as I filled up my tank out on the road. Luckily, I catch myself when this happens. I take a breath. And I shift my thoughts. I had a great road trip. And I continue to feel (and be) prosperous.

Remember, you can have a powerful dream or vision for yourself. You can do all the right meditations and create effective action plans. But if you sink into negative patterns in your daily rounds, then that depletes you. If you get to the gas station and pump your gas with dread and loathing, then you are whittling away at your dream. If you randomly complain just to have something to say, then those times will impact your energy.

Here are some practices that help me as I travel, and as I do my work in the world. Gas prices or no gas prices!

1 – Stop “Telling it Like it Is”

Read this quote from an Abraham-Hicks seminar. Read it aloud if you can.

We practice the Art of Allowing. Which means reaching for the thought that feels best, not the thought that is the real thought, not the thought that is telling it like it is. Telling it like it is only holds you where it is: “Damn it, I’m going to tell it like it is. I’m going to tell it like it is, because everybody wants me to tell it like it is.” Tell it like it is if you like it like it is. But if you don’t like it like it is, then don’t tell it like it is–tell it like you want it to be. If you tell it like you want it to be, long enough, you will begin to feel it like you want it to be, and when you feel it like you want it to be, it be’s like you want it to be.

2 – Smile at the Gas Station Price Boards

It’s so easy to react negatively to gas station pricing signs. I could hear myself thinking, “Geez!” as I drove by gas stations in different cities. Then, I realized how that eats away at me. So, I opted to quit. When I was tempted towards “geez” thinking, I’d notice something beautiful instead. Anything. A flower pot. A bird. A song on my stereo. I just shifted my focus. You don’t actually have to smile at the gas stations, but you might want to consider doing something to shift your own version of “geez” thinking.

3 – Change how you fill up the tank

This is big. As the gas is flowing into your tank, don’t stare at the numbers in horror. Don’t say, “Ohmigod, I remember when it only cost $15 to fill up my tank.” This only serves to make you feel poor. Find some way to be grateful or bring a blessing to the situation. “Thank you for my wealth” is a great affirmation to use. “I’m so grateful to have a car that runs well.” Or, “I know great things are happening in the world and that brilliant people are now finding alternative energy sources.” Doing this brings a peace and presence to this activity.

4 – Pay with gratitude

If you’re paying cash, then look the cashier in the eyes and smile. If you’re paying with a credit card at the pump, then bless the transaction. Be grateful that your credit card company trusts you enough to loan you that money. Gratitude shifts the “hard times” energy that the media loves so much.

5 – Fill up

Fill your tank. Okay? Don’t put in five dollars at a time and then worry your way to the next pump. The worst habit I developed from my minimum wage days was to put $5 in the tank every time. Filling the tank up is prosperity in action.

6 – Fill the tank when it’s half full

Don’t wait til the tank is empty to fill it. That way, you aren’t spending as much. This is a little mind trick I do when I’m on the road. (I started doing this when I toured in the winter and standing outside at gas stations in the freezing cold was unbearable for a full tank’s worth of time!) It may sound stupid, but don’t knock it til you try it!

7 – Stop talking about it

It’s so easy to jump in on these conversations and agree with everyone about how hard it is. And to tell people what it costs to fill up your tank. “Well, you think that’s bad, listen to this!” Walk away from these conversations.

8 – Find the gift

You know, it could be that the gift in high gas prices is that more people are waking up to solar energy or other sources of power. Remember that. Bless the situation. Don’t add your curses to it.

9 – Segment Intend

Segment intending is a technique from the book Ask and It is Given. It’s an intention that you set prior to doing any activity. It creates consciousness. And it prevents sinking into old patterns. So, don’t decide to get gas until you intend how it’s going to go. This doesn’t have to be a big ritual with candles, incense, and chanting. Just intend something like this: “I’m going to spend the next five minutes filling up my gas tank and remembering wealth. It’s going to be fun and I’m going to feel peaceful.” This works wonders.

Comments

Oh Christine! You are so *of the moment!* I just spent the last week running back and forth from the hospital and filling the tank. I also realized this could be a big negative but, like you, decided to be grateful. My first thought was that we are still below the *National Average* here in north Florida. And then, I was so glad to have the car and be able to get back and forth as needed. My day-to-day experiences are becoming so much more positive – thanks for the encouragement!

For those too stressed to click, US gas price is around 50% of Europe, and New Zealand, where I’m from. I havn’t paid 90c/l ($3.35/gal) for gas for, oh, 10+ years…. I can’t beleive how cheap it is here…

Other than that – great advice Only 2 options: adjust your habits, or stop worrying about it. One will stop the problem, the other will stop the stress from the problem.

Oh wow such a practical article Christine! I especially like points 4 and 6. This article is definitely needed in the UK right about now. For just one litre its almost £1 or $2. to fill up my tiny petrol tank costs me £60. But you’ve reminded me to give gratitude and see the abundance in the situation and for that I’m grateful!

Gas prices here seem to be going down a little bit. I have managed to pay less than $3 a gallon for it so far. I am grateful that my “new” car gets almost twice the milage that my truck did. We just saw a news story that showed a new refinery that will make biodiesel. This is a huge facility, one big enough to really make a difference. Yea!

I want to share this event with your readers who are concerned with energy and interested in renewable energy and sustainable living. The fair is the largest educational event of it’s kind and I am a super fan. It’s the 18th Annual Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair June 15-17, 2007. The Fair will be held at the ReNew the Earth Institute. The ReNew the Earth Institute is located at 7558 Deer Road in Custer, WI.

I was at one of those lovely shows this weekend, and was happy for a chance to hear you sing live for the first time! http://flickr.com/photos/romanlily/518001820/ Thanks for filling that tank up and coming down here for a visit.

I’m actually having some fun with the gas prices. I’ve walked to work for the past two days, despite the warm weather (I just bring a change of clothes so that I’m not all sweaty when I teach my class). I feel great afterwards. And I’m really, REALLY thankful that I’ve got two strong, healthy legs that can carry me to work. Oh, and it’s getting to be a bit lucrative too–I found 37 cents on the way in! I’m making a diligent effort to use my car less (and not use it at all at least one day a week).

Wonderful, as always. Because of you, I am now filling my tank instead of worrying! It is the greatest gift. I never worry about running out now AND I am practicing abundance. Thank you for this awesome gift.

oops! i got behind again! (two days in the studio, and I leave tomorrow for another show…)

seventhsister – thanks for the good news. i’m considering a hybrid myself!

thanks joy. that’s so easy to forget. (of course, I never forget it. but some of the people here might occasionally forget! :-))

thanks z. I hope lots of people show up and support you!

romanlily, wow. how great. I was wondering if there were any first time folks that night – and it’s kind of cool to know that you found me through the blog. (bloggers take note!) you’re a good photographer too!

Petra – you should meet cindy heath in n.h. (she’s promoting a show i’m doing up there in july.) she bikes or walks as much as she can. And 37 cents! you go!

thanks lisa! and good for you – i’m happy to know i contributed to a small life change for you!

Beautiful article… So simple, so spot on. Things are what they are. In the moment, all we choose is our response.

I’ve noticed the same things you point out here… when my cash was low, waiting until the tank was almost empty, only putting in $10… but it does make you feel ‘poor’. So now I put in $40. But I’ve still been waiting until it got low… So i’m going to change that too.

Hi Christine! I haven’t visited your blog in far too long! I wanted to tell my method for dealing with the gas prices. First of all, I ALWAYS fill my tank. I usually fill it somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 a tank. And I’ve started NOT LOOKING at the total when I’m done. I always put my gas on my debit card, so I’ll find out how much it is sooner or later, but I just don’t concentrate on it. I used to put all of my gas on a gas credit card, but when i noticed that the budget had gone from $80 a month to $200 a month….AAAAaaaaaahhhh! So I don’t budget for it separately anymore, either. I clump it in with “living expenses” like food. Might not work for everyone, but it works for me. And I always look for that which I can be grateful for. I love my little truck, so that’s a no-brainer.

Trackbacks

[…] I love Christine Kane’s writing style, both for her blog and her music! I’m constantly teasing my husband with, “Four legs good; two legs bad.” (He doesn’t find it as funny as I do for some reason.) But if her blog doesn’t improve your vibrational level, her music definitely will – so you get a double-whammy with Christine. As for my favorite post, I think her writing just keeps getting better and better, so I’m linking you to today’s post (as of this writing), which is Immunity from Gas Prices: One Girl’s Ultimate Guide. […]

[…] I love Christine Kane’s writing style, both for her blog and her music! I’m constantly teasing my husband with, “Four legs good; two legs bad.” (He doesn’t find it as funny as I do for some reason.) But if her blog doesn’t improve your vibrational level, her music definitely will – so you get a double-whammy with Christine. As for my favorite post, I think her writing just keeps getting better and better, so I’m linking you to today’s post (as of this writing), which is Immunity from Gas Prices: One Girl’s Ultimate Guide. […]